Choosing the right paper for your brochure is important and needs to be handled carefully. There are many kinds of paper that are available for you to choose from and it is important to choose the best paper for the job.
The paper that is used in brochures is generally a heavy stock card. Printing on this paper requires a change in the printer settings to emit the correct amount of heat and type of ink. There are six kinds of paper that are available. One is used for offset printing and is used in text books and books. This is the paper that is normally found inside a brochure. A lighter weight paper, known as bond paper, is used for stationery printing. The cover of the brochure is done in cardstock, the heaviest paper of the lot. The remaining three are Bristol, Index and Newsprint, also known as tag.
When buying paper, the vendor will need to know what weight of paper is desired. The basic weight of each paper is measured by weighing 500 sheets for the particular grade of paper.
The paper comes in different finishes, which is dependant on the purpose of the printing. The finishes can be smooth or glossy in texture. Some of the most commonly used finishes are: Dull-coated, Matte-coated, Gloss-coated, Antique, Vellum, Wove, Smooth, Felt, Laid & Parchment, Linen and Fiber-added.
A swatch book is available to help choose the correct type and weight of paper and sample sheets are available if a recommended kind of paper is desired. The best way to decide on the printing paper is by the use of the swatch book. These sample sheets can be used to test against the brochure design.
Once the paper quality and size are chosen, be sure to have a matching envelope in the correct size. If the size of the paper is unusual, custom envelopes can be made to accommodate the size.
